Checo: The Boss Of Baku

Take a look back at Checo's impressive track record at Baku City Circuit

Sergio

Pérez

has

been

the

podium

three

times

Baku

–

the

most,

along

with

Sebastian

Vettel,

that

any

driver

has

collected

the

five

races

held

Azerbaijan’s

capital.

Azerbaijan was first introduced on the Formula One calendar in 2016 as the European Grand Prix. A year later the Baku City Circuit was maintained on the calendar and apart from 2020 (for obvious COVID reasons), Azerbaijan has hosted a Grand Prix every year since.

Out of the five races held in Baku, Checo has made it to the podium three times. So, here’s a look back at the races where the Mexican Bull got to taste the champagne.

2016

The

European

Grand

Prix

A red flag in qualifying hindered several drivers at the European Grand Prix, but Checo’s first flying lap – in his Force India VJM09 – was enough to see him secure P2 for the race, although he had to take a five-place grid penalty after qualifying because he needed to change his gearbox, which he damaged clipping the barrier in Free Practice Three.

So Checo started in P7 but was up into fifth place after getting a strong start off the line.

Checo then pitted at the end of lap-17 and returned to the track behind Lewis Hamilton in P7. As others pitted around him and Hamilton struggled with engine issues Checo found himself up in fourth.

Kimi Räikkönen was in P3, but had collected a five-second penalty for crossing the pitlane entry, so as long as Checo stayed close to the Ferrari driver he was going to be on the podium. Nevertheless, Checo took Räikkönen on the final lap to claim third and his seventh career podium.

Checo Sneaking Up On The Top Three At The 2016 European Grand Prix

2018

The

Second

Azerbaijan

Grand

Prix

Azerbaijan represented the fourth round, of 21 races, of the 2018 season. Checo qualified in P8 for the race, 1.049s behind Sebastian Vettel who put his Ferrari on pole.

There was carnage at lights out on the straight after turn two as Sergey Sirotkin made contact with both Fernando Alonso and Nico Hulkenberg. In the fallout Checo struck the back of Räikkönen and damaged his front wing. When Sirotkin’s car stopped near turn three, causing the release of the Safety Car, Checo pitted for a new front wing.

This was the season we helped Checo’s cause when on lap 40, Daniel Ricciardo and Max Verstappen made contact with each other into the first corner, causing both to crash out of the race and prompt a second Safety Car of the race. Checo, moved up to P5 as both Bulls retired and Checo decided to pit for fresh supersoft tyres.

When the Safety Car pulled back into the pits, Bottas was leading with Vettel in P2 behind him. Vettel went for an aggressive overtake but overshot the turn and locked up his brakes causing flat spot on his tyres, dropping him to P4. With the damaged tyres, Checo was able to get in front of Vettel for P4.

On the following lap, race leader Bottas suffered a puncture and was forced to retire, moving Checo up to P3 behind Hamilton and Räikkönen. With only two laps remaining Checo stayed in P3 to claim his second podium at Baku.

Riding Together Since Way Back When

2021

The

Fourth

Azerbaijan

Grand

Prix

After missing out in 2020, the fourth Azerbaijan Grand Prix (fifth race in Baku) was to be the sixth round of the season.

Checo was new to Oracle Red Bull Racing and at the start of the season had said: “It will take me six races to get used to the car.” And so it proved as everything clicked into place for Checo on the streets where he’d already had such great memories.

In qualifying Checo was sitting in P7 after his first flying lap, but his hopes of improving disappeared when Yuki Tsunoda locked up in turn three and hit the barriers. Close behind the Japanese driver was Carlos Sainz. Seeing the incident, the Spanish driver hit the brakes but he too locked up and hit the barrier just behind Tsunoda before bouncing along the wall of the escape road. This caused the red flags to be shown and the session ended. Meaning Checo was to start further down the grid than he would’ve liked.

The Moment That The Race Was Won

But after the first lap of the race, Checo was up to P4 and by lap 10, he was in P3 behind teammate Max Verstappen and Lewis Hamilton who was in first.

Hamilton pitted at the end of lap 11, but was held in his pit box as he had to wait for Pierre Gasly to pass. This pushed the Bulls into first and second. Max went in a lap later and the Dutch driver emerged from the pit lane ahead of Hamilton. With Checo right on the pace, the Team told him to box at the end of the next lap. Sergio posted a rapid sequence of purple sectors and even though he had a slow 4.3s stop due to a wheel gun issue, he was able to re-join ahead of Hamilton.

Max and Checo were dominating the race but on lap 46 it all changed when Max’s rear tyre failed and he crashed into the wall causing the red flags to come out and for the race to be restarted with just two laps remaining.

Checo had pole for what would now be a two lap ‘sprint to the chequered flag with Hamilton in P2. And when the lights went out it was Hamilton who made the best start. He pulled alongside Checo on the inside line as they powered towards turn one. But as they hit the brakes Hamilton locked up and Checo swept through to claim the lead as Hamilton slid down the escape road and to the back of the field. As it turned out, this was a crucial moment in the Championship as Hamilton lost the opportunity of gaining significant ground on his title rival Max Verstappen in the hunt for the Drivers’ Championship.

A Moment We'll Never Forget

Checo had to hold off Sebastian Vettel for two laps to claim his first win as a Bull and his third podium in Azerbaijan. With Vettel in P2 and Gasly in third it was the first time in the sport’s history that a Mexican, German and Frenchman had shared a podium.

And now, fresh from a win in Monaco and with Checo in the form he is, he’ll be looking to become the first driver to claim two wins in Azerbaijan and take the crown of being the most successful driver at the Baku City Circuit.

It's Raining Red Bull For Checo